BHS Day 23: Mabel Staupers

Hi! For our last ELM Spotlight in this year's series, I wasn't sure who to choose. I haven't featured a woman yet this week, so when I realized that, I was able to narrow it down from there. lol Even though I've featured someone in the medical field throughout this year's BHS, I don't recall featuring a nurse yet, which brings me to today's entrant, who could at very least be described as a trailblazer. 

Name: Mabel Keaton Staupers, 1890-1989

Profession: Nurse

Why is the Spotlight on her today? For her leadership in the nursing industry and work to fight for the inclusion of Black nurses in the mainstream medical field

Notables and accomplishments:
--Successfully fought for Black nurses to be included in the medical efforts during World War II
--Helped establish the Booker T. Washington Sanatorium to help Blacks suffering with tuberculosis --Throughout her tenure at NACGN, increased the organization's membership, built up positive relationships with other organizations, both non-medical and medical, and helped Black nurses to be included in the military
--Helped Black patients dealing with tuberculosis receive proper treatment, medication and other resources  --Was the first paid executive secretary for the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, an organization that was formally dissolved when the American Nurses' Association became desegregated --Was a vital factor in the decision for the ANA to desegregate and allow minorities entry --Was behind a large public outcry of support, from the NAACP to the YWCA and American Federation of Labor, by making public her fight to end military quotas of Black nurses being drafted during the war
--Graduated from the Freedmen's Hospital School of Nursing, an institution created by the government to help aspiring Black nurses receive proper training in order to care for freed slaves
--Former Superintendent of Nurses at Mudget Hospital  --Helped form the first Black hospital in Harlem so that Black doctors could still treat their patients
--Was a recipient of the Spingarn Medal for her work in fighting for Black nursing professionals --Was one of the women who helped establish the NCNW --Was inducted into the ANA Hall of Fame 
--Was the executive secretary for the Harlem Tuberculosis Committee

Research resources and further reading links: African-American Almanac | Wikipedia | AA Registry | Nursing World | Encyclopedia

Quote of the Day:
"For too long nurses have been undervalued, restricted in what they could do, with too few career opportunities in clinical practice. For far too long, nurses have endured a pay system that has held them back--both professionally as well as financially." 
--John Hutton, on the value of nurses